Newsletter Fall 2020

The Friends of the Shawnee National Forest is a nonprofit organization that supports the Shawnee National Forest by promoting land stewardship, environmental education and responsible outdoor recreation.

Fall in the Shawnee National Forest is truly breathtaking and we do hope you all get a chance to get outside and explore what this region has to offer. 

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we do a lot of things. That doesn’t mean we can’t get outside, but please remember social distancing and be respectful of others along the trails, lakes and parks.

Find out more information about the Shawnee National Forest at https://www.fs.usda.gov/shawnee.

Your contributions help support the Friends of the Shawnee National Forest’s commitment to environmental stewardship

This summer, the Friends of the Shawnee National Forest, in partnership with the United States Forest Service, was awarded funds in a cost sharing agreement to survey the impact of invasive plant species.  Two of the seven designated Wilderness Areas in the Shawnee National Forest, Burden Falls and Bay Creek, were selected for this project. 

Two contractors, Caleb Grantham and Nick Seaton, surveyed these areas on foot using a GIS mapping system. Their efforts helped establish baseline data for these areas’ current invasion status.  The study concluded some communities were heavily infested and under heavy pressure from non-native invasive competition, while other sections showed high-quality upland forest with native plant species present on numerous occasions throughout the surveyed areas.

Human impact was heaviest at the area boundaries with noticeable invasion pressures.  Trails and streams were also seen as vectors for invasive species. This effort helped identify species emerging as new threats to the Forest such as Achyranthes japonica (chaff flower), as well as areas that were able to withstand pressure from long-time invaders such as Microstegium vimineum (stilt grass). 

We hope to see this data curated and built upon for the future as the dynamics and species assemblages change within these Wilderness Areas.

Friends begins off-season trail maintenance

The Friends of the Shawnee National Forest begins collaborative effort with the US Forest Service, environmental groups and interested individuals to help maintain the high-quality environmental experience visitors of the Shawnee National Forest have grown accustomed to. Friends board member, Steve Melville, owner of Rim Rock’s Dogwood Cabins, will be offering some free lodging in exchange for trail maintenance and/or litter cleanup. Friends anticipates this program will expand to include other lodging facilities. 

Please show your support for the
Friends of the Shawnee National Forest

As many of you are aware, we’re not doing our annual fundraiser with dinner, live music and a silent auction this year due to concerns with the Covid-19 pandemic. 

We have two ways where you can show your support for our mission.  We hope you’ll take a moment and donate one way or the other. 

Our annual fundraiser takes a different form this year as a GoFundMe. Take a moment to consider some of the things we do behind the scenes. Annually, along with the Forest Service, we host two fishing derbies for kids at Oakwood Bottoms and the Pennant 4 Pond at Grantsburg. We’ve removed graffiti at Bell Smith Springs and Cove Hollow.  We’ve hosted trash blasts all over the Shawnee. We assist with trail stewardship and evasive species removal.

Above all we help promote the Shawnee National Forest as one of the natural jewels of the Midwest.  It’s not about us. It’s about our mission.

Please take a moment to donate to our annual fundraiser at 
https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/friends-of-the-shawnee-annual-fundraiser/friendsoftheshawneenationalforest?fbclid=IwAR3OmJiNWEkZmGG8u03mtrt6umYYp2oHtJJG_NXjXBYJOOtrglk1LxJSdss

And thank you. 

Shop on Amazon/smile and support the Friends of the Shawnee

Many of us are shopping online more than ever during this pandemic.  If you are one of those and wish to support the Friends of the Shawnee National Forest, you can do so with AmazonSmile. 

In addition to our GoFundMe campaign, this is another way to contribute to the Friends to help us continue our mission.   

Thank you!

East and West Side Trail Maps

These maps include every Forest Service designated trail and are a great tool for exploring the Shawnee.

You can now purchase maps at the U.S. Forest Service – Shawnee National Forest offices in Harrisburg, Vienna, and Jonesboro, as well as Shawnee Trails Wilderness Outfitters in Carbondale. If you’re from out of the area, or would rather purchase online, please visit our store at: https://friends-of-the-shawnee.square.site/.

If you have a business that would like to carry maps, or a group that would like to buy in bulk, please contact us at friendsoftheshawnee@gmail.com.

80th Anniversary T-shirt

Shawnee National Forest 80th Anniversary T-Shirt. Available in S, M, L, XL & XXL.

SNF Sign Hoodie

Black hoodie featuring Shawnee National Forest sign. Available in Small and Large.

Visit our https://friends-of-the-shawnee.square.site/ for details.  Thank you for your support.

Become a Friends of the Shawnee National Forest Member

The Friends work with the U.S. Forest Service, Southern Illinois Communities, and a host of partners to help people explore, experience, and enjoy the Shawnee National Forest.
We strive to promote volunteerism, support stewardship projects, connect people to the land, strengthen relationships, and build a legacy of the Shawnee National Forest for future generations. Help support our mission. 

Give what you can.  All levels of membership are eligible for tax deduction.  Visit our website at https://friends-of-the-shawnee.square.site/. 
Thanks very much for your support.